Helpachildsmile.com - Help A Child Smile
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helpachildsmile.com Message from the Chair: We hope that all of you are keeping well and safe as we continue to navigate our lives through this pandemic. I know that we here at Help a Child Smile are all eager to get back to normal and once again gather together with all of you soon. As we move into spring I can feel the optimism that life may be getting back to normal soon. It had been one year since our world essential shut down and that new normal kicked in. For many of you the feeling of a "new normal" is nothing new. As usual I will keep everyone posted on our plans moving forward. I am hopeful that this summer we will have some opportunity to restart some of our family events. It is a bit early yet for us to fully evaluate what the summer will look like but we feel confident that some level of normalcy will return. More to come on our summer plans soon. We have already started planning our annual Family Picnic which is scheduled for September 11th and hopefully this will truly be a celebration. Stay well, wear your mask, practice physical distancing, wash your hands and be safe. Nelson Mota As the pandemic continues to plague us, international travel is still severely restricted. You may have heard that the Village has reopened and is accepting families. While that is true, it applies primarily to US families and those from a few countries who are not restricting travel at this point. In addition, the Village experience itself has been scaled back to a mere fraction of what it was (and will be again) due to the COVID restrictions at the parks and attractions as well as within the Village itself. Our Board of Directors continues to closely monitor the recommendations by Canada's top health officials. That being said, we believe it could be a full 18 to 24 months before we can resume safely sending families to the Village. If you have been considering the Village trip as your child's wish, you have the option to wait it out, depending on his/her age. Keep in mind that the Village is best experienced by kids up to the age of 15. If you would like to speak to a parent about the Village experience to help you decide, contact Amy Watson (amyewatson@outlook.com) or Pam Isaak (pam.vail@gmail.com) for details. If you decide that you would rather choose a wish that your child does not have to wait so long to enjoy, please ask to be referred to Make-A-Wish. Your Social Worker/POGO Interlink Nurse or Child Life Specialist can help with this. While you will have 3 years after the date of referral to have your wish granted, they prefer it be taken within the first year. If you decide to wait for our trip, you may not be eligible to be referred to Make-A-Wish later! Joyce Hutson
THE ILLUSIONIST:
LUCAS WILSON
Live Via Zoom
Sunday, April 11
2:00pm & 7:00pm
Ages 7-12
Registered HACS children ages 7-12 will receive a magic kit.
Additional kits can be purchased on the event registration page.
Register at https://helpachildsmile.com/family-registration/
Virtual Storytime with
Kurt Baksh
Saturday, May 22
1:00pm
Via Zoom
Ages 4-8
Kurt Baksh will read a story
and then host a question and answer session!
Register at https://helpachildsmile.com/family-registration/
UPCOMING FUNDRAISERS!
Follow us on Facebook at:
Help A Child Smile
for details
The 30th Anniversary of the
Jim Walsh Bike Ride!
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Jim Walsh
Bike Ride there will be a two week long event,
beginning July 5 and ending with a end-of-ride party at
the Knights Hall in Brantford on July 17.
You can register online at Raceroster or contact
Denis Larocque for old-fashioned pledge sheets.
Ride the trail of your choice on any day, send us
photos, then join us for a bbq and family activities at
the Hall.
All COVID-19 protocols will be followed!
For more information and to register:
https://raceroster.com/events/2021/46951/the-jim-
walsh-bike-ride-for-kids-with-cancer
Apps and Ideas to have an AWESOME Family/Friends Game Night!
Life during a pandemic was definitely something new to all of us but that does not mean we have to stop having fun or
staying connected. Now more than ever we need to be surrounded by people we love and what better way to do so
than to have a Virtual Game Night!
Below are some apps and ideas on ways you can host an awesome family/friends game night!
Best of all……. They’re all FREE!
Houseparty (AGES 13+): Houseparty is a social networking app that allows up to 8 people (8 devices) to video
chat in a virtual “room.” Users can have infinite rooms and easily float between rooms. This app can be down-
loaded on both Apple and Android Devices (Mobile and Laptop/MacBook), or played on Google Chrome as an
extension.
Houseparty has a lot of fun games that you can play with your friends and family! To start a game, click on
the dice icon on the top right of the screen. There are games such as Heads Up!, Trivia, Quick Draw
and Chips and Guac.
Word of advice for Privacy: Once you have started a room, ensure to lock it using the lock icon on the
bottom of the screen so it stays private to you and your friends/family.
Houseparty’s Privacy Policy: https://houseparty.com/privacy/
Zoom, Skype, Discord, Google Hangouts, FaceTime (Hosting Platforms): Apps such as these do not have built
-in games to play but definitely can be a great way to host/stream/share a multiplayer game. Below are links
attached with information on how to setup a game night using these platforms. **Some games suggested in
articles might require a fee to play. All platforms mentioned above however, are free to download.**
https://gamenightgods.com/how-to-host-a-virtual-game-night/ (**Games suggested in this article are recom-
mended for ages 13+. Jackbox Games include family-friendly versions of their games found in the
game’s settings.**)
https://www.oprahmag.com/life/a32022684/virtual-game-night/
https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/22/cnn-underscored/virtual-game-night-ideas/index.html
Virtual Escape Rooms/Mystery Rooms: Virtual Escape rooms have become a huge trend during the pandemic!
They allow users to work alone or in a group to escape a “Virtual Room” or solve a mystery. Below are links to
access a variety of free virtual escape rooms/ mystery rooms.
https://www.familyfuncanada.com/edmonton/19-digital-escape-rooms-your-family-will-love/
https://www.simplemost.com/free-digital-escape-rooms/
https://www.thesuburbanmom.com/2020/05/01/virtual-escape-rooms/
https://kidsactivitiesblog.com/137828/digital-escape-rooms/
Camp Ooch and Camp Trillium (All Ages): Camp has gone Virtual! Camp Ooch and Camp Trillium offer a wide
variety of programs and activities to campers at no cost! Below is a link to their website where you can find a
number of programs for your child/children and the whole family to partake in!
Main Site: https://camptrillium.com
Around the Campfire Virtual Camp: https://ooch.org/virtual-summer-camp/
Current Brochure for Upcoming Programs: https://ooch.org/wp-content/uploads/4-Virtual-Program-Brochure
-Jan-Feb.pdf
Donations in
Memory of:
Vickey Miller
• BCM Insurance- $1000
Doreen Winter
• Jeanne Bucci- $1000
John Feely
• Kari Frank- $1000
Tonino DeAngelis
• RPM Kids First- $717.40
Albert Caron
• Abate 8 Ride: Chapter 8- $4500;
• Raymond Moyer- $2270 Kathleen Cleave
• Toronto Tank Lines- $500 Jack Suess
Larry Long
Antonino Raposo
Gilles Gagnon
Damian Thomas
Angelo Francesco
Mr. Giovanetti
Myrtle Young
Thank you to Julia’s mom Christina for
organizing a wine raffle in Julia’s memory during
the Christmas season!
The Greg Frewin show has been
She was able to raise $870 in Julia’s memory. rescheduled to April 9.
We will send more details and the
link for families to watch soon!
Help A Child Smile’s Board of Directors
are excited
to announce that we have two new volunteers
that have joined our organization:
Rehanna Bachan & Nick Ferreria
Rehanna and Nick put together the information on
virtual game nights and have also been
helping plan our upcoming virtual events!
They will be working with Bertha on family events
and we can’t wait for you to meet them.
Rehanna and Nick, thank you for your enthusiasm
that you bring to our organization!
To our new families:
We are saddened to hear that your child has cancer. Since 1986,
Help A Child Smile has bee providing support to children being
treated for or that have been treated for cancer at McMaster
Children’s Hospital.
We know that a cancer diagnosis affects the whole family and that’s why we offer a variety of
events and activities that the everyone can participate in. It’s a chance to leave the diagnoses,
treatments and hospitals behind, if only for a few hours.
Our organization provides parking passes, gas cards, and support to pay for medical procedures
not covered by OHIP. If you have any questions regarding our programming, please visit our
website at helpachildsmile.com or email admin@helpachildsmile.com.
Once COVID-19 is behind us, we look forward to meeting you in person when our events resume.
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